IR-2016-152: As Holidays Approach, IRS Reminds Taxpayers of Refund Delays in 2017

IR-2016-152: As Holidays Approach, IRS Reminds Taxpayers of Refund Delays in 2017

IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2016-13: How Selling Your Home Can Impact Your Taxes

IRS Summertime Tax Tip 2016-13: How Selling Your Home Can Impact Your Taxes

Please make sure you know who is preparing your taxes.

Preparer Jailed for Defying Court Order http://www.theprogressiveaccountant.com/Tax/preparer-jailed-for-defying-court-order


Please please please be sure to check out your tax preparer.  You can check their IRS status here: http://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf you can look to see if the person doing your return is able to represent you if anything where to happen.  Remember a person can be an Attorney or a CPA and still not have tax experience, or even be barred from preparing returns.  This site will allow you to see if a person is legitimate and also will show what credentials they have.  There are 4 credentials accepted by the IRS

Attorney (licensed by States) - Tax Attorneys can represent you on any matter with the IRS
CPA (licensed by States) - CPAs can represent you on any matter with the IRS
Enrolled Agent (licensed by the IRS directly) - EAs can also represent you on any matter with the IRS
AFSP (Annual Filing Season Program) - this is a voluntary program that allows unlicensed preparers who earn a certain number of continuing education credits, these preparers have limited representation rights.

Read about the various credentials and qualifications of tax preparers here: https://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Understanding-Tax-Return-Preparer-Credentials-and-Qualifications

Do not be afraid to ask someone to see their license.  I keep mine on my desk so if anyone asks for it I can show it to them.  A professional tax preparer will not have a problem showing you their qualifications or allowing you to interview them.

PLEASE READ URGENT

The number of fraudulent "IRS" calls or e-mails reported in January were 4 times what was reported in January last year.  This is a very serious issue.  Do not open any e-mail that claims to be from the IRS and if you are one of my clients, there is no harm in calling me to see if an e-mail is actually from me.  Its a good time to also do virus and malware scans on your hard drives.  It also may be a good time to go over proper internet use with your kids, you don't want them clicking on something that could result in all of your info getting in the wrong person's hands.

IR-2016-28: Consumers Warned of New Surge in IRS E-mail Schemes during 2016 Tax Season; Tax Industry Also Targeted

IRS Tax Tip 2016-19: Scam Calls and Emails Using IRS as Bait Persist

 These scams are still going on please remember do not EVER give out personal information over the phone to anyone that calls you out of the blue.  The IRS will never call you and demand payment, they also will never threaten to arrest you, as owing taxes is not a criminal matter, it is a civil infraction.
IRS Tax Tip 2016-19: Scam Calls and Emails Using IRS as Bait Persist

IR-2016-12: Identity Theft Is an Ongoing Concern and on the IRS Annual “Dirty Dozen” List of Tax Scams to Avoid

IR-2016-12: Identity Theft Is an Ongoing Concern and on the IRS Annual “Dirty Dozen” List of Tax Scams to Avoid

Because of the ongoing identity theft issues with the IRS.  Boucher Tax and Accounting Services will now be required to keep a copy of your picture ID when we prepare your returns.  This is for your protection should there ever be an issue in the future, we can prove to the IRS that the return prepared by Boucher Tax and Accounting was the correct return.

IRS Tax Tip 2016-06: Choose Your Tax Preparer Wisely

Lisa Boucher of Boucher Tax and Accounting Services is an Enrolled Agent, and that credential allows us to represent any taxpayer on any matter before the IRS.  You can verify this here: http://irs.treasury.gov/rpo/rpo.jsf  Zip Code to use is 02370

IRS Tax Tip 2016-06: Choose Your Tax Preparer Wisely